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Communications

Internet users (Internet Service Providers (ISPs)) [time series]

7 (2000)

Internet country code [time series]

.al

Internet users [time series]

2,500 (2000)

Broadcast media (Radio broadcast stations) [time series]

AM 16, FM 3, shortwave 2 (1999)

Radios [time series]

810,000 (1997)

Telecommunication systems (Telephone system) [time series]

general assessment: Albania has the poorest telephone service in Europe with fewer than two telephones per 100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that every village has telephone service domestic: obsolete wire system; no longer provides a telephone for every village; in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, peasants cut the wire to about 1,000 villages and used it to build fences international: inadequate; international traffic carried by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece

Telephones - fixed lines (Telephones - main lines in use) [time series]

87,000 (1997)

Telephones - mobile cellular [time series]

3,100 (1999)

Broadcast media (Television broadcast stations) [time series]

9 (plus 264 repeaters) (1995)

Televisions [time series]

405,000 (1997)

Economy

Agricultural products (Agriculture - products) [time series]

wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products

Budget [time series]

revenues: $393 million expenditures: $676 million, including capital expenditures of $NA (1997 est.)

Exchange rates (Currency) [time series]

lek (ALL)

Exchange rates (Currency code) [time series]

ALL

Debt - external [time series]

$1 billion (2000)

Economic aid (Economic aid - recipient) [time series]

$NA; aid for energy from China, Germany, Norway (2000)

Economic overview (Economy - overview) [time series]

Poor by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more open-market economy. The economy rebounded in 1993-95 after a severe depression accompanying the end of the previous centrally planned system in 1990 and 1991. However, a weakening of government resolve to maintain stabilization policies in the election year of 1996 contributed to renewal of inflationary pressures, spurred by the budget deficit which exceeded 12% of GDP. The collapse of financial pyramid schemes in early 1997 - which had attracted deposits from a substantial portion of Albania's population - triggered severe social unrest which led to more than 1,500 deaths, widespread destruction of property, and a 7% drop in GDP. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to revive economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by remittances from some 20% of the labor force that works abroad, mostly in Greece and Italy. These remittances supplement GDP and help offset the large foreign trade deficit. Most agricultural land was privatized in 1992, substantially improving peasant incomes. In 1998, Albania recovered the 7% drop in GDP of 1997 and pushed ahead by 8% in 1999 and by 7.5% in 2000. International aid helped defray the high costs of receiving and returning refugees from the Kosovo conflict. Privatization scored some successes in 2000, but other reforms lagged.

Electricity - consumption [time series]

5.379 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - exports [time series]

100 million kWh (1999)

Electricity - imports [time series]

600 million kWh (2000)

Electricity - production [time series]

5.332 billion kWh (1999)

Electricity - production by source [time series]

fossil fuel: 3.81% hydro: 96.19% nuclear: 0% other: 0% (1999)

Exchange rates [time series]

leke per US dollar - 146.08 (December 2000),143.71 (2000) 137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93 (1997), 104.50 (1996); note - leke is the plural of lek

Exports [time series]

$310 million (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Exports - commodities [time series]

textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco

Exports - partners [time series]

Italy 67%, Greece 15%, Germany 5%, Austria 2%, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2% (2000)

Fiscal year [time series]

calendar year

Real GDP (purchasing power parity) (GDP) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $10.5 billion (2000 est.)

GDP - composition, by sector of origin (GDP - composition by sector) [time series]

agriculture: 55% industry: 24% services: 21% (2000)

Real GDP per capita (GDP - per capita) [time series]

purchasing power parity - $3,000 (2000 est.)

Real GDP growth rate (GDP - real growth rate) [time series]

7.5% (2000 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share [time series]

lowest 10%: NA% highest 10%: NA%

Imports [time series]

$1 billion (f.o.b., 2000 est.)

Imports - commodities [time series]

machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals

Imports - partners [time series]

Italy 37%, Greece 28%, Turkey 6%, Germany 6%, Bulgaria 3% (2000)

Industrial production growth rate [time series]

9% (2000 est.)

Industries [time series]

food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower

Inflation rate (consumer prices) [time series]

1% (2000 est.)

Labor force [time series]

1.692 million (including 352,000 emigrant workers and 261,000 domestically unemployed) (1994 est.)

Labor force - by occupation [time series]

agriculture 50%, industry and services 50%

Population below poverty line [time series]

19.6% (1996 est.)

Unemployment rate [time series]

16% (2000 est.) officially; may be as high as 25%

Geography

Area [time series]

total: 28,748 sq km land: 27,398 sq km water: 1,350 sq km

Area - comparative [time series]

slightly smaller than Maryland

Climate [time series]

mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter

Coastline [time series]

362 km

Elevation (Elevation extremes) [time series]

lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,753 m

Environment - current issues [time series]

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents

International environmental agreements (Environment - international agreements) [time series]

party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates [time series]

41 00 N, 20 00 E

Geography - note [time series]

strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)

Irrigated land [time series]

3,410 sq km (1993 est.)

Land boundaries [time series]

total: 720 km border countries: Greece 282 km, The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 151 km, Yugoslavia 287 km

Land use [time series]

arable land: 21% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 15% forests and woodland: 38% other: 21% (1993 est.)

Location [time series]

Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Map references [time series]

Europe

Maritime claims [time series]

continental shelf: 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation territorial sea: 12 NM

Natural hazards [time series]

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; drought

Natural resources [time series]

petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, timber, nickel, hydropower

Terrain [time series]

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast

Government

Administrative divisions [time series]

36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll (Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje, Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen), Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje (Bajram Curri), Vlore note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Capital [time series]

Tirana

Constitution [time series]

a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

Country name [time series]

conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Diplomatic representation from the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit Labinoti 103, Tirana mailing address: PSC 59, Box 100(A), APO AE 09624 telephone: [355] (42) 32875, 33520

Diplomatic representation in the US [time series]

chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942

Executive branch [time series]

chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[1] (202) 628-7342

Diplomatic representation in the US (FAX) [time series]

[355] (42) 32222

Flag (Flag description) [time series]

red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

Government type [time series]

emerging democracy

Independence [time series]

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

International organization participation [time series]

ACCT (associate), BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO

Judicial branch [time series]

Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term)

Legal system [time series]

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Legislative branch [time series]

unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next held 24 June 2001, 2nd round 8 July 2001) election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3

National holiday [time series]

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Political parties (Political parties and leaders) [time series]

Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Liberal Union Party [Teodor LACO]; note - Teodor LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD; Movement of Legality Party or PLL [Nderim KUPI]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]

Political parties (Political pressure groups and leaders) [time series]

Suffrage [time series]

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Introduction

Background [time series]

In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of xenophobic communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as corrupt governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, a dilapidated infrastructure, widespread gangsterism, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged local elections in 2000 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but serious deficiencies remain to be corrected before the the 2001 parliamentary elections.

Military

Military and security forces (Military branches) [time series]

Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense Forces, Interior Ministry Troops, Border Guards

Military expenditures - dollar figure [time series]

$42 million (FY99)

Military expenditures (Military expenditures - percent of GDP) [time series]

1.5% (FY99)

Military manpower - availability [time series]

males age 15-49: 870,768 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service [time series]

males age 15-49: 712,763 (2001 est.)

Military manpower - military age [time series]

19 years of age

Military manpower - reaching military age annually [time series]

males: 35,792 (2001 est.)

People

Age structure [time series]

0-14 years: 29.53% (male 536,495; female 500,026) 15-64 years: 63.48% (male 1,073,351; female 1,155,115) 65 years and over: 6.99% (male 107,476; female 138,021) (2001 est.)

Birth rate [time series]

19.01 births/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Death rate [time series]

6.5 deaths/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Ethnic groups [time series]

Albanian 95%, Greeks 3%, other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.) note: in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate [time series]

less than 0.01% (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths [time series]

less than 100 (1999 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS [time series]

less than 100 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate [time series]

39.99 deaths/1,000 live births (2001 est.)

Languages [time series]

Albanian (Tosk is the official dialect), Greek

Life expectancy at birth [time series]

total population: 71.83 years male: 69.01 years female: 74.87 years (2001 est.)

Literacy [time series]

definition: age 9 and over can read and write total population: 93% (1997 est.) male: NA% female: NA%

Nationality [time series]

noun: Albanian(s) adjective: Albanian

Net migration rate [time series]

-3.69 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2001 est.)

Population [time series]

3,510,484 (July 2001 est.)

Population growth rate [time series]

0.88% (2001 est.)

Religions [time series]

Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice

Sex ratio [time series]

at birth: 1.08 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.78 male(s)/female total population: 0.96 male(s)/female (2001 est.)

Total fertility rate [time series]

2.32 children born/woman (2001 est.)

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international [time series]

the Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Yugoslavia; Albanians in The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government

Illicit drugs [time series]

increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe

Transportation

Airports [time series]

11 (2000 est.)

Airports - with paved runways [time series]

total: 3 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2000 est.)

Airports - with unpaved runways [time series]

total: 8 over 3,047 m: 1 1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 914 to 1,523 m: 2 under 914 m: 4 (2000 est.)

Heliports [time series]

1 (2000 est.)

Roadways (Highways) [time series]

total: 18,000 km paved: 5,400 km unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)

Merchant marine [time series]

total: 9 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 17,797 GRT/26,324 DWT ships by type: cargo 9 (2000 est.)

Pipelines [time series]

crude oil 145 km; petroleum products 55 km; natural gas 64 km (1991)

Ports (Ports and harbors) [time series]

Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore

Railways [time series]

total: 447 km standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2001)

Waterways [time series]

43 km note: includes Albanian sections of Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake Prespa (1990)